If you consider turning the breaker off and back-feeding the circuit, find a breaker lockout. They can be as simple a sheet metal stop that has a set-screw to fasten to the handle of the breaker, all the way to padlock arrangements. If nothing else, it will keep someone from accidentally throwing the breaker back on.
Harbor Freight 800 Watt Generator - $80 - during the Oct 7 - 9 parking lot sale
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Funny thing, the electricity hasn't gone out since… What are the odds?
g.Smit
"Be excellent to each other."
Bill & TedComment
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I have 2 of them now.
When I first got one, I played with it on my bench in my shed. It is extremely quiet. So quiet that I started to become overcome with CO2 while I was testing it because it was not so loud that it made me look for hearing protection.
Some tips:
- (I am kind of a generator nut - I have a Generac 7000EXL that powers my house when needed. It has a tri-fuel conversion and I ran it for 4+ days on Natural Gas last month during the huricane)
- The 800 watt gen has a carb bowl drain screw. Nice for totally draining system. I rotated the bowl so that it was easily accessed with a long screw driver from the side of the machine. I also added a fuel filter - the short style - to capture any chips in the tank left over from manufacturing. I had a situation with the first one that caused a blockage even though I thought I cleaned the tank well.
- HF will provide the Champion conversion for the chinese plug - I have bought 2 immediately on the way home and never used the stock chinese unit.
- The gas cap has a nice measured cup to ease the concern of mixing the oil in the gas. Fill the tank, add 2.5 oz of 2 cycle oil, shake, and run.
- I buy walmart 2 cycle oil in gallon bottles. One will last 51 fillups, 256 hours, if you have 51 gallons of gas (at 5 hrs per fill)
Hope you all enjoy it.Comment
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People die every year because they don't understand or don't respect electricity. If your negligence causes a lineman to be injured or killed, I can assure you the local utility will make an example of you. There are good, safety-related reasons for not messing with meters or back feeding from a standby generator.Comment
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2nd session of testing going on now .....
Cut my gas line, inserted a filter, added gas and we are off an running.
I've got a 500 watt flood light running as the load and I'll run till the tank is dry - probably close to 5 hours.
Then I'll box it back up (dry all around) and store if for action when the next natural disaster strikes.
Not a house sized unit but comfort when needed.
(Let's not start a discussion on the electrical risk issues of not doing things right. This happens all the time on my other generator related forums. We are identifying a great value and discussing its use when following the manufacturer's recommended practices)Comment
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http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-5278-C.../dp/B003ATXIBG
This device will do what you want. Mount to the outside of your workshop building. Use a standard extension cord to connect the generator to this inlet.
Here's a cheaper version: no cover etc but only $12
http://www.stayonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=8718
the problem with these I listed are that they are only 15A so not good for powering a whole workshop. Good for powering a single branch circuit with a small genset (under 1800W). They sell locking plugs for 50 amps for more for those having a distribution box with several breakers and branch circuits., designed to be used with heavier wire, of course, probably something like 8 Ga.
I think that putting permanent power in might be cheaper than getting a generator that's quiet enough for me.Comment
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Mine so far is running fine. After it heats up, I do hear a little noise. It might be that I'm running 87 octane (not 89 as specified) or it could be a touch of piston slap. Not sure but it does not seem to bother the unit.
Right now I'm running one more tank of gas through mine at about 60% load. That will put about seven hours on it, all with the stock spark plug. When it runs dry I'll wait till it cools. Then I'm going to drain the carb, take out the stock plug, and spray the insides with a quick shot of WD40. (Yes, I know WD40 is not fogging oil but it's better than nothing.)
After that I'll put a new Autolite plug in it and store it away until I need it.Last edited by Woodshark; 10-13-2011, 12:51 PM.sigpicComment
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Mine so far is running fine. After it heats up, I do hear a little noise. It might be that I'm running 87 octane (not 89 as specified) or it could be a touch of piston slap. Not sure but it does not seem to bother the unit.
Right now I'm running one more tank of gas through mine at about 60% load. That will put about seven hours on it, all with the stock spark plug. When it runs dry I'll wait till it cools. Then I'm going to drain the carb, take out the stock plug, and spray the insides with a quick shot of WD40. (Yes, I know WD40 is not fogging oil but it's better than nothing.)
After that I'll put a new Autolite plug in it and store it away until I need it.
I also bought 2 cans of this premixed fuel from Sears http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0582000P?mv=rr and put it in the box - perfect for an extreme emergency where power might be needed.
Included a quart of 2 cycle oil and a $4 power strip from HF as well (that I also tested): http://www.harborfreight.com/four-ou...rip-91334.html
Also fogged the unit with WD40, placed the bag over it, and boxed it up for the next emergency.Comment
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+1 on that! After an ice storm a couple of years ago, I bought a genset from the BORG, a transfer switch from Amazon, and had an electrician install the switch and socket. Well worth the expense and the half a day it took them.
Funny thing, the electricity hasn't gone out since… What are the odds?
g.
Thanks.JohnComment
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Clearly, to the power co. a broken seal is a big hint that someone has screwed with the meter, for whatever reason.
Again, don't do this unless you are VERY comfortable and experienced working with electricity. Electricity bites, usually very hard.Last edited by woodturner; 10-13-2011, 04:43 PM.--------------------------------------------------
Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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AGAIN, unless a person is really comfortable and experienced working with meters and service panels, THEY SHOULD NOT DO THIS!--------------------------------------------------
Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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well, the seals are designed to be tamper resistant. You can't remove the meter without removing the seal, you can't remove the seal w/o breaking it.
Clearly, to the power co. a broken seal is a big hint that someone has screwed with the meter, for whatever reason. A major reason for this system is so that people don't bypass the meter or change the meter to steal electricity.
.Comment
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It is a bad idea for a reason I hadn't originally considered: Pulling the meter exposes terminals which carry 220-volts, 60 to perhaps 200-amps. Once the power is restored to the neighborhood, the terminals are energized and right there for anyone to stick their fingers in ("hey, is this on?").
NOT SAFE.
I suppose you could get a cover to have in the event that the power goes out. But that is a lot of planning ahead. Better to just wire a temp. plug onto the furnace in the event that an ice storm (for example) takes out power for a few days, and leave the meter alone.Comment
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A transfer switch is just that a double throw switch that has as its common the house wiring, and the two inputs are either the gerneator or the power lines.
So they come in automatic and manual, the manual you have to switch yourself when the power goes out and then ou start your generator. The automatic senses when the power line goes away and automatically switches to the generator and starts the generator by remote start control. There are more refinements such as transfer switches that only enable part of the house in case you have a genset that cannot power the whole house load.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questionsComment
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When an electrician removes a meter, they either reinstall the meter in a different orientation (many meters are designed so they can be installed without contacting the power connections) or installs a cover, for just the reasons you suggest.--------------------------------------------------
Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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